Surfer Samson Donick recently named his top five places to learn to surf.
Samson Donick grew up along the shores of San Francisco, California. Surfers know this stretch of coastline isn’t the easiest place to learn the sport, for its commonly large swells, chilly water, and often windy conditions. Donick learned to surf in these difficult waves but advanced his skills at other locations around the globe. He recently discussed his top five places to learn to surf that offer more comfortable conditions than the expert-level waves along the San Francisco coast.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Florida is an ideal place to learn to surf. The year-round warm water temperatures, consistent swells, and sandy bottom beach breaks are a beginner’s playground.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida is home to more than 17 miles of sandy shores. It’s easy to rent a surfboard at a local surf shop, and Donick suggests taking a lesson to learn good surfing habits right off the bat.
Playa Grande, Costa Rica
Costa Rica is known as a surfing hot spot. People travel from around the world to surf the beach breaks, point breaks, and reefs along Costa Rica’s coast. Samson Donick suggests heading to Playa Grande on Costa Rica’s northern coast to learn to surf in mellow, sand-bottom waves.
The town of Playa Grande offers two major surf shops, which make renting a board and signing up for a lesson easy.
San Clemente, California
San Clemente is a quintessential California surf town with reef, beach, and cobblestone breaks. Trestles is the most famous surf spot in the area, but Donick recommends heading to the sandy shores closer to downtown San Clemente. The San Clemente Surf School is an ideal place to learn to surf and ensure you’re not getting in the way of the many pros who live in the area.
Barbados
The Caribbean is an idyllic place to learn to surf for its picture-perfect beaches, crystal clear waters, and laid-back vibes. Many spots in the Caribbean are too sheltered to receive consistent swells, but Barbados is different.
The east coast of Barbados commonly sees swell and is a perfect place to longboard among picturesque, turquoise waters. Zed’s Surfing Adventures offers lessons for beginners to advanced level surfers.
Bali, Indonesia
Bali is a favorite destination among advanced surfers, but it’s also excellent for beginners. The island is littered with surf shops, surf camps, and schools ready to teach beginners how to ride their first waves.
It’s also a unique travel destination with countless natural, cultural, and historic sites to explore when not in the ocean.
Samson Donick and His Passion for Surfer
Donick explained there’s a reason why surfing is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. The combination of sun, saltwater, and picture-perfect destinations make it a sport everybody wants to learn. Wherever you decide to learn to surf, Donick suggests taking a lesson with a local to learn the waters and proper surfing techniques.
